Sanitary collapsible container



.g I WAL-FE A.RosEL|.E 17 El lllll'lwlllllmfllll's M7 l ATTORNEY April 28, 1936. w. A. Rosi-ILLE 2,038,760

SANITARY COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Dec. 3, 1955 l "mi I o J o 1 1 I .MUN

guniiiillilii-liilliiiiiillnuH I lNVENToR atented Apr. 28, '1936 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 2,038,760 SANITARY coLLAPslBLE coNrArNE Walter A. Roselle, New York, N. Y, v Application'nec'ember s, 1935, serial No. 52,634

s clams. (ci. zel-co) My invention relates to an improved type of collapsible container. More particularly my invention contemplates the production of a colla'psible container which has all of the desirable characteristics of metal containers with regard to strengthand non-resilient compressibility (deforrnation), while overcoming metal containers with lregard to expense, and the vpossibility of contamination of contents.

lil An object of lmy invention is to provide a complete tube and nozzle structure of extraordinary strength and cheapness.

Another object of my invention is to produce a suitable collapsible container for cosmetics, food products, or like materials. The container is especially designed so that it will not contaminate or have any deleterious eiect upon the contents of the tube. r Still another lobject is to make a tube and nozzles which combine the features of` strength,

cheapness, nonresilient compressibility, and inertness to the contained products.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with .the accompanying drawingv in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of a completed container according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the top joint members in one stage ofassembly, parts beingbroken away.

vFig. 3 is a partial section of the same in another stage of assembly, with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the elements 'of the ,container before assembly.

.The container according to the preferred form of my invention includes in general a top member, an inner tube, and anouter tube. The top member I0, in the form shown, has a hood porftion II with a depending flange I2 having. a-

rounded edge I3. Outside ofy the flange I2 is a shoulder I4 formed on the bottom of the hood. 45. The top of the hood terminates in a nozzle I5 to which may be secured a closure 4I6 of any appropriate design. The entire top member mustbe made'of. material 'which is imperviousand not subject t6 chemical action with the contents of the tube.

Such material must be chosen with care when 'unstable chemical products, cosmetics, or food-l' stuifs are to be contained in the tube. v Y

. Besides the necessary inactive chemical character of the top, the same must also be substanthe defects of tially rigid vorl incompressible and hard in order to vuse the joining media hereinafter described.

` made preferably of thin metal foil, and, because l0 of the character of the rest of the container, the foil need not be asvthick as most foils for tubes and may be made from cheaper metals. This tube may be extruded orv drawn or made in any suitable fashion. l5 A lining tube I9, with a flared end 20, is placed inside of the tube II. This liner is, like the top III, made of a material which is chemically inert to the contents of the tube. However, thistube must bev flexible in order to collapse properly when 20 in use. Materials suitable for the inner tube include hydrated cellulose, cellulose acetates, rubber base compounds yand many others.

This tube may be made in any suitable fashion, helically Wound, Wrapped with a straight seam, 25

- or otherwise, so long as'precaution is used to outer wall, must be impervious to the contents of -3Q the tube.

The edges of the non-metallic strip `used `in i making the inner tube or lining aref preferably united by some adhesive or some softener or solvent for-the material. 35

A closed ring ZI is used to join the tubular members to the top. .This ring is of a material much harder .than any of the tube materialsand of limited elasticity. A superior material for the ring has been found to'be steel. Other ma- 40 terials with the requisite characteristics might be used.

In assembling my improved container, the inner and outer cylindrical tubes are ilrst assembled, their ends being flared so thatthe flared 45 inside diameter of the 'inner tube is just enough to slip over the flange I2. The outside diameter of the inner tube at the flare is the 4same as .the inside diameter of the outer tube Vat Vthe flare,

or in otherwords, the'inner and outer tubes it 50 closely together at the ared portion as well as elsewhere.A -Note Fig. 2.

.The flared-tubes are next slipped over the l -fiange I2 and the ring 2| is slid along the assembled tubes. In order to make a proper joint, 55 f Yao the' inside ring diameteris almost identical with the outside'diameter of the outer tube, or just suillciently larger so thatthe ring can be slipped on to the tube. g

Another'dimension of importance is the outside diameter of the ilange I2 in relation to the inside of the ring. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outer dimension of the flange is equal to the inside dimension of the ring, no provision being made for the size oi' the tubes. Strictly speaking, the ring could just be slipped on to the flange without expansion if the tubes were not present.

Now when the ring, tubes and top are vin the position of Fig. 3, the ring is forcibly driven over the enlarged portion of the tubes. The rounded edges I3 aid in permitting the ring to be forced on. The incompressible top prevents the tubes from collapsing, and the ring expands slightly, biting a little into the outer/tube and compressing the tubes between the `hard ring and the Arigid flange. Because the ring is closed, every point o`n the circumference is subjected to stress, and the two tubes are held tightly between the ilange I2 and the ring 2|.

The shoulder Il serves as a seat for the ends of the tubular pieces and as a stop for the ring.

'I'his structure adds to the neatness of appearance ofthe container.

Surprisingly enough, although the inner tube has no direct contact with the ring and although the outer tube has no direct contact with the ilange, both tubes are so tightly held to the top and to each other that no adhesives or equivalent securing means between the inner and outer tubes are necessary. This eliminates an added cost item usually necessary in laminated structures.

, After the parts have been assembled as above described and the contents inserted, a clip 22 lor other closing means is used to complete the package. Because both tubes are coincident in length, it is not necessary to have any special type of closure at this end, the contents being protected from contamination by the tube I9.

In use, the outer metal tube gives the container the property ofcollapsibility and enables the same to be rolled Yup and stay rolled up as the contents are used. This outer tube also protects the inner tube from exterior strains.

The inert chemical character of the inner tube and the top makes the shipment of delicate foodstuiIs, cosmetics and unstable chemicals entirely safe, while permitting the use of lead i'oil or other metals usually chemicallybbjectionable in the outer wall structure. The cheaper metal foils are, in fact, desirable in the reduction of cost. 'I'he rigidity of the top adds to the strength of the nozzle and makes the superior joint possible. Because the top is made separately from the tube, expensive coating and moulding operations are not necessary. Plain cylindrical t'ubes may be easily manufacturedin any length and cut up into the desired size. Contrast this to structures in which special machinery andmethods are necessary to produce the tube and nozzle end 4the cylindrical tubes is the flaring of the ends.

This can be done by a simple Wedging or expanding tool and the rounded edge I3 on the ila'nge aids in positioning the ilared portions on the nozzle top.

The complete container is of particular benefit for the sanitary and safe keeping of foods, or cosmetics, including facial creams, tooth pastes, shaving creams and other products, or any other substances which might be chemically unstable or active when brought into contact with usual collapsible tube materials. The following claims should be read with this field of use in mind.

I claim:

1. A collapsible container for foodstuis, cos metics and the like comprising an outer tube of collapsible metallic foil, an inner tube of collapsible material impervious and chemically inert to the material contained therein and coextensive with said outer tube, both of said tubes being enlarged at one end thereof, a nozzle member' of metics and the like comprising an outer cylindricall tube of collapsible metallic foil, an inner cylindrical tube of collapsible non-metallic material coextensive with said outer tubeand impervious and chemically inert to the material contained therein, both of said tubes'being oi.' enlarged diameter at one end thereof, a top member of substantially incompressible non-metallic material impervious and chemically inert to the tube contents, said top including a cylindrical ange of an outside diameter at least as great as the outside diameter of the outer tube body, the enlarged portions of the inner and outer tubes both being seated upon the ange, and a closed compression ring of material substantially harder than the tube materials tightly surrounding `said enlarged tube portions and said ilange and holding the same tightly together.

3. A collapsible container for foodstuffs, cosmetics and the like comprising an outer'cylindrical tube of collapsible metallic foil, an inner cylindrical tube of collapsible non-metallic material impervious and chemically inert to the material contained therein, said tubes being mutually coextensive and closely fitting each other, both of said tubes being of enlarged diameter at one end thereof, a top member of substantially iri-4 compresslble non-metallic material impervious and chemically inert to the tube contents, said top including a cylindrical ilange of an outside diameter at least as great as the outside diameter ofthe outer tube body, the enlarged portions of the inner and outer tubes'both being seated uponthe flange, a closed compression ring of material substantially harder than the tube materials tightly surrounding said enlarged tube portions and said ange and holding th same tightly to'- gether and means for holding together and closing the other ends of said tubes, said tubes being free from each otherthroughout their lengths except at the top joint and end closure.

4. 'A container for chemically' active materials comprising an outer collapsible tubular member formed of soft metal, an inner collapsible tubular member formed of soft -non-metallic material substantially impervious and chemically inert to the tube contents, a separately formed neck member ofv substantially incompressible material impervious and chemically inert to the tube contents, and a seamless uniting ring of material harder than the tubular members, said neck member having an outer wall of larger diameter than the inside diameter of the main part of the inner tubular member, said tubular members `both having a mouth portion of larger diameter than the diameter oi the main part, 'said mouth portions being seated 'one within the' other and on the outer wall of the neck member, said ring surrounding the enlarged mouths of the tubular members and being under tension and holding the tubular members tightly on the neck member.

5. A sanitary container comprising an outer cylindrical tube of non-resilient collapsible material, an inner cylindrical tube of collapsible material coextensive with said outer tube and diameter oi the outer tuberbody, the enlarged portions oi the inner and outer tubes both being seated upon the iiange, and aclosed compression ring of material substantially harder than the tubel materials tightly surrounding said enlarged tube portions and said ilange and holding the same tightly together.

6. A sanitary container comprisingan outer collapsible tubular member formed of soft material, an inner collapsible tubular fmember formed of soft material substantially impervious and chemically inert to the tube contents, aseparaly formed neck member of substantially incompressible material imperviousand chemically inert to the tube contents, and a seamless uniting ring of material harder than the tubular members, said neck member -having an outer wall of larger diameter than the inside diameter of the main part of the inner tubular member, saidy tubular members both having a mouth portion of larger diameter than the diameter oi the main part, said mouth portions being sea-ted one within the other and on the outer wall of the neck member, said ring surrounding the enlarged mouths of the tubular members and being under tension and holding the tubular members tightly on the neck member.

WAL'I'ER A. ROSELLE. 

